Pad structure



W. A. STEWARD PAD STRUCTURE April 29, 1952 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 Filed March 25 1950 INVENTOR;

WILLIAM A. STEWARD ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 29, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PAD STRUCTURE William A. Steward, Maplewood, Mo.

Application March 25, 1950, Serial No. 151,961

2 Claims.

This invention relates in general to certain new and useful improvements in pad structures and has for its primary objects the provision of a pad structure which is composed of a plurality of identical component units, and which may, therefore, be simply, economically, and expediently manufactured in a series of standard sizes for grouping in various ways to accommodate a wide range of different shapes and sizes; which may be utilized as an impact-cushion beneath rugs, linoleum, and the like and may be utilized without the necessity of precise cutting and fitting for each individual use or installation; and which is otherwise highly efficient in the performance of its intended functions.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention resides in the novel features of form, construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts presently described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings (two sheets)- Figure l is a plan view of a pad constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the pad illustrating the sections in interconnected position;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a connector element forming a part of the present invention, showing in dotted lines the manner in which it is bent in providing interlocking engagement between the various pad sections;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the pad showing a connector element thereof in partially engaged position; and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the pad taken approximately along the line 55 of Figure 2.

Referring now in more detail and'by reference characters to the drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of my present invention, A designates a pad preferably comprising nine identical rectangular pad sections I .die-cut or otherwise formed from a suitable pad-forming material, such as heavy cardboard, fiber. or the like, each being provided with a series of uniformly spaced short slits 2 extending along and in inwardly spaced parallel relation to the four edges thereof. The particular sections l, as shown, are preferably four feet long by three feet wide since most rugs, linoleums, and floor coverings are sized in multiples of such dimension. For instance, nine sections I, as shown in Figure 1, will form a pad for a 9' x 12 rug or linoleum mat. Similarly, eighteen sections I can be readily arranged to fit under a 12 x 18' rug and so on.

Provided for co-operation with the sections l are U-shaped connector or fastener elements 3 stamped from easily bendable sheet metal and integrally including a central web portion 4 and two spaced parallel legs 5, the latter being preferably rounded at their ends and being slightly narrower than the slots 2 for convenient insertiontherethrough. The legs 5 are furthermore provided with a U-shaped slit 6, the ends of which are located Just above the bend line between the leg 5 and the web portion 4, to form a bendout tab 1.

In use a plurality of sections 1 are connected in edgewise relation by inserting connector elements 3 through paired slots 2 across the abutment line as shown in Figure 4 and bending the legs 5 to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 3. Preferably, though not necessarily, the fastener or connector elements 3 can be clinched in place by finger pressure or hammering them down lightly to embed them in the paperboard somewhat in the manner shown in Figure 5.

In use, the pad sections may be die-cut in large numbers on a production basis from the selected pad-forming material without appreciable waste. Subsequently, when it is desired to form a pad for a table or floor covering, such as a rug, for instance, a selected number of such pre-cut units may be assembled together in whatever size or shape may be required without the necessity of handling a large section or roll of padding material and cutting a single unitary piece therefrom.

Thus, by my present invention, it will be seen that I haveprovided an economical and efficient type of sectional pad structure, which is exceptionally low in cost, durable, and serviceable in operation, and may be assembled and installed with a minimum of effort and expense.

It should be understood that changes and modifications in the form, construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of the pad structure may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the nature and principle of my invention.

Having thus described my. invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. For use with a sectional pad of the character described, a connector element formed of bendable material and integrally comprising a central web portion and spaced parallel legs, each leg being internally slit to provide two oppositely bendable retention ears.

2. For use with a sectional pad consisting of a plurality of identically shaped rectangular sections being provided around their peripheries :not overlap.

with uniformly spaced series of slits so arranged that when the sections are laid in edgewise abutting altgnment each slit will be paired with a corresponding slit of the adjacent section, a. connector element formed of bendable material and integrally comprising a central web portion and spacedparallel legs, each leg being internally slit to provide two oppositely bendable retention ears, said ears being; somewhat shorter than the distance between theslit and the adjacent edge of the section so that when the connector element is inserted through a pair of slits and bent over the ears which extend toward each other will A. S'IQEWARD.

, V. 4 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 171,712 Adair Jan. 4, 1876 281,708 Maynz July 24. 1883 946,536 Cromleigh Jan. 18, 1910 10 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 8,357 Great Britain of 1907 343,730 Germany June 15, 1919 

